Van Ness Tales - "The Unexpected Encounter" Short Story Is Available For Download
The Unexpected Encounter
April, 1777
The April dawn blushed red first then pink as the sun rose
slowly above the cold and fog-shrouded North river. On the western bank, at Sneden’s
landing where the ground sloped gently down to meet the river at the
northernmost end of the tall cliffs of the Palisades, the trees were showing
the first leaves of spring.
In calmer times, small sloops and three-masted schooners
would sail the short distance up the North river from New York City to barter and
trade with the local farmers here. Now, into the second year of open war, it
was quiet and empty, with many of the families who had lived here on the slopes
above the river having abandoned their homes, afraid the violence would soon
come to them.
Standing on the riverbank a young boy from one of the
families who had remained behind, fished contentedly, determined to catch the
day’s first fish before his older, still sleeping brothers pushed out onto the
river to do some fishing of their own.
At the home nearest the river, a fire was heating up on the
hearth, its smoke rising from the chimney beckoning. The boy could smell his
mother’s kitchen from here and realized it was time to return home.
He turned to hurry back and stopped, looking past his home
at the four riders.
The lead rider, a young officer, judging by his uniform and
the sword that hung at his side, scanned both sides of the dirt track that ran
down to the water’s edge, looking cautiously at the abandoned homes he passed.
A larger rider
followed behind, another officer also armed with a sword and pistol. Behind him
two more riders followed, riding more clumsily than the lead riders but holding
muskets and looking more capable and fierce, than their officers.
The riders dismounted outside his family’s home, stretching
stiffly. The boy watched as his father came outside already dressed, as if he
had expected the riders. Out of earshot, the boy couldn’t make out what his
father was saying, but it was clear from the way he hurried the officers inside
that he was likely nervous about what would happen next.
Colonel Peter Van Ness stepped through the door of John
Sneden’s home eager for a cup of tea, a warm fire and a quiet visit with his
mother. Captain Austin followed close behind, more cautiously than his
commander, though still rubbing his hands at the thought of a warm fire and a
cup of tea.
Both reached for their swords however, when a red coated
officer from the British army stood to greet them.
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